TA Blog: 2009-05-04 Town Meeting I
May 4, 2009 Board of Selectmen Meeting Summary
1. Joint Appointment Appointment of Nashoba Valley Tech District Rep Alternative (Joint Meeting with Town Moderator and School Committee) - The members of the Board of Selectmen, School Committee, and the Town Moderator unanimously voted to appoint Daryl Baker as the Nashoba Valley Technical School District Representative Alternate.
2. Lucy's Land - MOU - LAND Grant - The Board of Selectmen voted to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lucy L. Yapp Nominee Trust for the acquisition by the Town of the fee interest in a certain parcel of real estate on Newtown Road, containing 53.61 acres, more or less, shown as Lots 2 and 3 on plan entitled, “Plan of Land, Littleton, Mass., prepared for Lucy L. Yapp, September 2, 1992” by Clyde R. Wheeler and endorsed by the Littleton Planning Board on September 10, 1992, for a consideration of $930,000 in cash and acceptance of a donated value of the difference between $930,000 and an appraised value provided by the seller; and further to authorize the execution of a grant agreement with the Massachusetts Division of Conservation Services for $500,000 from the Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) grant program towards the purchase of the so-called "Lucy's Land"; with a conservation restriction to be deeded to the Sudbury Valley Trustees upon acquisition of the property, all subject to approval of Article 6 of the May 4, 2009 Special Town Meeting.
3. Spectacle Pond Acquifer - The Board of Selectmen voted to authorize the Town Administrator to support the ongoing effort of the Water Department and others to protect the zone II and III aquifer on and near the former San-Vel site in the town of Ayer near the Littleton town line.
MAY 4, 2009 TOWN MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - First Night - Monday, May 4th
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING. Town Meeting voters completed action on all articles in the warrant for the May 4, 2009 Special Town Meeting. Read the complete results. Highlights included the following:
STM-4 Russell Street School Repairs – School Building Committee - Town Meeting voters approved borrowing $13.4-million for the Russell Street School repair project repairs to presentation by DRA architects on the . May 4, 2009 Special Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve borrowing $13.4-million for repairs to the Russell Street School. MSBA share estimated at $6.2-million; Town share at $7.2-million. See revised project figures. Approval is subject to passage of a debt exclusion ballot question on the Saturday, May 9, 2009 Annual Town Election ballot.
STM-6 Acquisition of Lucy’s Land – Yapp Conservation Property - Town Meeting voters approved the acquisition of the 53.6-acre Yapp conservation land ("Lucy's Land") for $930,000. The sources of funding included a $500,000 grant under the State's LAND grant program. The Town will acquire the property by June 30, 2009.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING. Voters also acted on 15 of the 27 articles in the May 4, 2009 Annual Town Meeting warrant. Read the results. Highlights included
ATM-4 FY 2010 Operating Budget. Voters approved an operating budget for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2009 totalling $30,526,655.34. Staff reductions reflected in the Town's operating budget for FY 2010 consist of the following:2.25 hrs per week reduced in Accounting Department for Finance Technician; Reduce Asst Town Clerk stipend by 30% (currently vacant); 10 hrs per week reduced in Planning Department for Permit Coordinator; 4 hrs per week reduced in Planning Department for Admin Assistant; 0.75 hrs per week reduced in Zoning Board of Appeals for Admin Assistant; No overtime budgeted in Public Buildings for snow removal; 15 hrs per week reduced in Highway for Engineer position; A 40 hrs per week Highway Laborer position that is currently vacant has not been filled; 1.25 hrs per week reduced in Board of Health for Admin Assistant; Library Public Hours would be reduced by 5 per week, with staff hours reduced by approximately 6 hours per week: Open Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. instead of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Continue to be closed all day Friday in the summer,Open at 2 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday year round. Conservation Wetland funds would be used to fund 16.7% of the wages for the Conservation Admin Assistant – vs. the 12.7% used for FY09. The Police Department will not be filling a vacant Patrol Officer position – 40 hrs week reduction
ATM-8 Capital Items from Available Funds. Voters approved capital projects totalling $281,995 for the police, fire, highway, and school departments.
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